Gemotions

The house smelled of pine and cinnamon. His mother had been busy. His father, in his favorite worn armchair, looked up and smiled. A quiet satisfaction bubbled up within him.

"You made it!" his father said. He felt his face warm. He helped his mother in the kitchen, finding a comfortable rhythm in the shared activity.

Later, they watched a movie together, side-by-side, the comfortable silence punctuated by the occasional shared laugh. The weight that had been on his shoulders had noticeably lessened. He felt at peace.